Efficient chemoselective reduction of nitro compounds and olefins using Pd–Pt bimetallic nanoparticles on functionalized multi-wall-carbon nanotubes

• Novel Pd-Pt bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts on functionalized MWNTs were synthesized.
• Efficient reductions of nitro compounds and olefins were achieved.
• Excellent activity and high chemoselectivity for nitro compounds and alkenes were observed.
• The catalyst was reused 10 times without any loss of activity.

We report the synthesis of novel Pd–Pt bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts using functionalized multi-wall carbon-nanotubes and utilization of them to reductions. The carbon nanotube-supported bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts showed improved activity in reduction reactions, compared with that of mono metal-supported catalysts. Under the optimized reaction conditions, various nitro compounds and alkenes were cleanly reduced at ambient temperature. Furthermore, this catalytic system exhibits excellent activity and high chemoselectivity for nitro compounds in the presence of other functional groups labile to hydrogenation. After the reaction, the catalysts could be collected through filtration, and reused for 10 times without any loss of catalytic activity.

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